HP High Court

Vijyender Sharma

SHIMLA----The High Court of Himachal Pradesh  today issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Commissioner of Municipal Corporation, Shimla,  Deputy Commissioner, Shimla and Superintendent of Police, Shimla in a matter regarding  construction  of illegal sheds on the Government land in Downdale, Phagli, Shimla and intimidating the complainant, who is a leprosy patient.

Division Bench comprising the Acting Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed these orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the Court as Public Interest Litigation on a letter addressed to the Chief Justice by one leprosy patient namely Tek Chand.  The petitioner has alleged that he is residing  in the Government accommodation built for the lepers and  two other leprosy patients namely Gulab Singh  and Partap also live in the said building, who have illegally raised four permanent houses and 38 temporary sheds(Dharas) on the Government Land. He has also alleged that  last year, the Councillor of Fagli ward and the Junior Engineer erected a wall costing 70-80 lacs, on the land encroached by Gulab Singh and Partap. He has further alleged that they were allotted Government houses in the year 2013,  but these two persons were not in need of  Government Accommodation as their old houses are already existing over the land.  He has alleged that these encroachers threaten to ostracize him from the Panchayat  of the Lepers and to expel him from the Government accommodation.  He has prayed that he may be allowed to live freely and peacefully in the Government accommodation and  strict action be taken against the wrongdoers and inquiry be got conducted in this behalf.  He has also stated that the encroachments be got removed and the  beautiful Colony be maintained.

The Court posted the matter after four weeks  and directed the respondents to file  reply by then.